Method and user interface for performing a scan operation for a scanner coupled to a computer system

ABSTRACT

A method and user interface is provided for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation on an original document, which allows the user to acquire scanned images in an easier and more user-friendly manner. The method allows the user to scan an original document without requiring the user to have learned knowledge a background in the science of image processing, and also allows the scanner to perform only one scan operation on the original document. These features allow the use of the scanner to be easier and more user-friendly than the prior art. By the, method, the first step is to determine In the method, first a scanner driver program suited for optimizing the scan of the original document determines a set of image processing settings by a scanner driving program that are suited for optimal scan of the original document; and then. Then the scanner is activated to perform a scan operation on the original document based on the image processing settings to thereby obtain a primitive scanned image. Next, an image-enhancement process is performed on the primitive scanned image to thereby obtain a quality-enhanced image; and finally, the quality-enhanced image is transferred to the application program for use by the an application program.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to scanner technology, and more particularly, toa method and user interface for performing a scan operation for ascanner coupled to a computer system, which allows the user to acquirescanned images in an easier and more user-friendly manner.

2. Description of Related Art

A scanner allows a user to convert the printed matter on a document intoa digital image for further processing by a computer. In the use of ascanner, however, it requires well-learned and highly-experienced usersto do the image processing tasks properly. For inexperienced users, itusually requires a long period to learn, typically in a trial-and-errormanner, which would make the training quite cost-ineffective sinceadditional electricity and paper cost may be required in the trainingcourse.

The U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635 discloses a method that allows the user toacquire a scanned image by first obtaining a primitive scanned imagefrom the scanner, and then specify suited image processing settings suchas size and scan area for the scanner to perform a second scan operationon the original document to thereby obtain a final scanned image. Bythis method, the final scanned image can approach closely to the imagequalities of the original document. One drawback to this patent,however, is that it is quite inefficient to use since it requires thescanner to perform two scan operations on the same document.

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram showing the procedural steps involved in aconventional method to obtain a scanned image from an original document.

In the first step P100, the user interface for the scanner is activated.In the next step P102, the user interface commands the scanner toperform a primitive scan operation on the original document. Theprimitive scanned image is then displayed by the user interface for theuser to make enhancements thereon.

In the next step P104, the user interface asks the user to specifysuited image processing settings for the enhancement of the primitivescanned image, such as size setting and the desired scan area of theoriginal document.

In the next step P106, the user interface activates the scanner toperform a second scan operation on the original document based on theimage processing settings to thereby obtain a final scanned image. Inthe next step P108, the final scanned image is transferred to anapplication program for use by the application program.

It is apparent that the foregoing procedure has the drawback ofrequiring the scanner to perform two scan operations on the samedocument to obtain the final scanned image, which makes the imageacquisition quite inefficient.

Moreover, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635 is still quire quite insufficientin functionality to meet user demands in image processing.

In the use of many conventional image scan programs, it requires theuser to have learned knowledge a background in the science of imageprocessing. Therefore, for unlearned and inexperienced users, it wouldbe highly difficult for them to use these programs rightly, and requiresthe user to spend much time and material on training. Consequently,inexperienced users have a difficult time using the programs correctlywithout spending time, and other resources, on obtaining the propertraining.

In summary, conventional user interfaces for scanner operation have thefollowing drawbacks.

First, they require the user to have learned knowledge a background inthe science of image processing in order to properly carry out the imageacquisition, which makes the use of the scanner quite difficult anduser-unfriendly.

Second, if a user has no such knowledge background, the user needs tospend much time and material on training, typically in a trial-and-errormanner, which would make the use of the scanner quite cost-ineffective.

Third, the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635 provides only limited functionalityto the image processing, which would not meet user demands in high-endimage processing.

Fourth, the prior art requires the scanner to perform two scanoperations on the same document to acquire the final scanned image to beused by the application program, which makes the use of the scannerquite inefficient. It is desired that only one scan operation is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a method anduser interface for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner forperforming a scan operation, which allows the user to operate thescanner in an easy and user-friendly manner.

It is therefore an objective of this invention to provide a method anduser interface for use on a computer system coupled with a scanner forperforming a scan operation, which allows the scanner to perform onlyone scan operation on the original document.

In accordance with the foregoing and other objectives, the inventionproposes a new method and user interface for use on a computer systemcoupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation.

Fundamentally, the invention allows the user to scan an originaldocument without requiring the user to have learned knowledge backgroundin the science of image processing, and also allows the scanner toperform only one scan operation on the original document. These featuresallow the use of the scanner to be easier and more user-friendly thanthe prior art.

The invention is designed for use with a user interface incorporated ina computer system coupled with a scanner for performing an automaticscan operation on an original document. The computer system runs ascanner driver and an application program. The scanner driver is used todrive the scanner, and the application program can process the scannedimage as an image file.

The method of the invention includes the following procedural steps: (1)determining a set of image processing settings by a scanner drivingprogram that are suited for optimal scan of the original document; (2)activating the scanner to perform a scan operation on the originaldocument based on the image processing settings to thereby obtain aprimitive scanned image which is then transferred to the scanner driver;(3) activating the scanner driver to perform an image-enhancementprocess on the primitive scanned image to thereby obtain aquality-enhanced image; and (4) transferring the quality-enhanced imageto the application program for use by the application program.

In the foregoing method, the image-enhancement process includes acomprehensive set of image processing routines, such as automaticcutting, distortion correction, color calibration, and automaticcharacter recognition. The quality-enhanced image is then transferred tothe scanner driver in the computer system, and then transferred via thescanner driver to the application program specified by the user throughthe user interface. The application program can be either an imageediting program or a word processor that can accept the quality-enhancedimage as an image file.

By the invention, the scanner needs just to perform one scan operationon the original document rather than two scan operations required by theprior art (the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635). The invention is therefore moreefficient than the prior art. After this, the invention willautomatically perform an image-enhancement process on the primitivescanned image to thereby obtain the quality-enhanced image, withoutrequiring the user to have learned knowledge background in the scienceof image processing in order to perform the image enhancement, andtherefore no training is required. Since the user needs not to spendtime and material on learning the operation of the scanner, it makes theuse of the scanner more cost-effective and user-friendly. Furthermore,the invention provides an image-enhancement process that includes acomprehensive set of image processing routines which would meets mostuser's demands in image processing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention can be more fully understood by reading the followingdetailed description of the preferred embodiments, with reference madeto the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 (PRIOR ART) is a flow diagram showing the procedural stepsinvolved in a conventional method to obtain a scanned image from anoriginal document;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the incorporation of the userinterface of the invention in a computer system coupled with a scanner;and

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the procedural steps involved in themethod of the invention for performing a scan operation on an originaldocument.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram of the incorporation of the userinterface of the invention, as the block designated by the referencenumeral 50, in a computer system 20 coupled with a scanner 10. Thecomputer system 20 runs a scanner driver 30, which is a softwareprogram, for driving the scanner 10. Further, the computer system 20runs an application program 40 which can process the scanned image fromthe scanner 10 as an image file. The block designated by the referencenumeral 60 is used to represent the input from user operation. The usercan specify a set of proper image processing settings into the userinterface 50.

When the user wants to acquire a scanned image from an original document(not shown), the user first needs to place the original document (notshown) on the scanner 10, and then specify a set of image processingsettings that are suited for optimal scan of the original document (notshown). Next, the user interface 50 activates the scanner 10 to performa scan operation on the original document (not shown) based on the imageprocessing settings in the user interface 50 to thereby obtain aprimitive scanned image. The primitive scanned image is then transferredto the scanner driver 30 in the computer system 20.

Next, the scanner driver 30 performs an image-enhancement process on theprimitive scanned image to thereby obtain a quality-enhanced image. Theimage-enhancement process includes a comprehensive set of imageprocessing routines, including automatic cutting, distortion correction,color calibration, and automatic character recognition.

After this, the scanner driver 30 checks whether there is still anotherdocument waiting to be scanned. If YES, the scanner driver 30 willperform another scan operation. The quality-enhanced image is thentransferred to the application program 40 for use by the applicationprogram 40.

FIG. 3 is a flow diagram showing the procedural steps involved in themethod of the invention for performing a scan operation on the originaldocument. This method is used with the computer system 20 and thescanner 10 shown in FIG. 2 and is performed by the user interface 50.

In the first step S100, a set of image processing settings that aresuited for optimal scan of the original document is determined by ascanner driving program, and then stores these settings into the userinterface 50.

In the next step S102, the user interface 50 issues a scan request tothe scanner 10. In response, in the next step S104, the scanner 10 isactivated to perform a scan operation on the original document based onthe image processing settings in the user interface 50 to thereby obtaina primitive scanned image. The primitive scanned image is thentransferred to the scanner driver 30.

In the next step S106, the scanner driver 30 is activated to perform animage-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image to therebyobtain a quality-enhanced image. The image-enhancement process includesa comprehensive set of image processing routines, including automaticcutting, distortion correction, color calibration, and automaticcharacter recognition.

In the next step S108, the user interface 50 checks whether there isstill another document waiting to be scanned. If YES, the procedurereturns to the step S104; otherwise, the procedure goes to the stepS110.

In the step S110, the quality-enhanced image resulted resulting from theimage-enhancement process is transferred to the application program 40for use by the application program 40. The application program 40 can beeither an image editing program or a word processor that can accept thequality-enhanced image as an image file.

In the next step S112, the user interface 50 displays a message askingwhether the user wants to scan another document. If the user respondswith YES, the procedure returns to the step S100; otherwise, theprocedure is ended.

In conclusion, the invention has the following advantages over the priorart.

First, it requires the scanner to perform only one scan operation on theoriginal document rather than two scan operations required by the priorart (the U.S. Pat. No. 4,837,635). The invention is therefore moreefficient to use than the prior art.

Second, the invention allows the image-enhancement process to beentirely carried out automatically without requiring the user to haveknowledge background in the science of image processing, so that the useof the scanner is easier and more user-friendly.

Third, since the invention allows the user to carry out the scanoperation without having to spend time and material on training, the useof the scanner is more cost-effective than the prior art.

Fourth, the invention provides an image-enhancement process thatincludes a comprehensive set of image processing routines which wouldmeet most user's demands in image processing.

Fifth, the invention allows the image acquisition to be mostly performedautomatically, allowing the operation of the scanner to be moresimplified and user-friendly.

The invention has been described using exemplary preferred embodiments.However, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is notlimited to the disclosed embodiments. On the contrary, it is intended tocover various modifications and similar arrangements. The scope of theclaims, therefore, should be accorded the broadest interpretation so asto encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.

1. A method implemented on a user interface incorporated in a computersystem coupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation on anoriginal document, the computer system running a scanner driver and anapplication program;, the method comprising the steps of: determining aset of image processing settings required for the original document by ascanner driving program; obtaining a primitive scanned image in a mannerthat the scanner uses the image processing settings through the scannerdriving program; performing an image-enhancement process on theprimitive scanned image, wherein the image-enhancement process includesan automatic cutting routine; and obtaining a final image by theimage-enhancement process, wherein the final image is transferred to theapplication program.
 2. A method implemented on a user interfaceincorporated in a computer system coupled with a scanner for performinga scan operation on an original document, the computer system running ascanner driver and an application program;, the method comprising thesteps of: determining a set of image processing settings required forthe original document by a scanner driving program; obtaining aprimitive scanned image in a manner that the scanner uses the imageprocessing settings through the scanner driving program; performing animage-enhancement, process on the primitive scanned image, wherein theimage-enhancement process includes a distortion correction routine; andobtaining a final image by the image-enhancement process, wherein thefinal image is transferred to the application program.
 3. A methodimplemented on a user interface incorporated in a computer systemcoupled with a scanner for performing a scan operation on an originaldocument, the computer system running a scanner driver and anapplication program;, the method comprising the steps of: determining aset of image processing settings required for the original document by ascanner driving program; obtaining a primitive scanned image in a mannerthat the scanner uses the image processing settings through the scannerdriving program; performing an image-enhancement process on theprimitive scanned image, wherein the image-enhancement process includesa color calibration routine; and obtaining a final image by theimage-enhancement process, wherein the final image is transferred to theapplication program.
 4. A method implemented on a user interfaceincorporated in a computer system coupled with a scanner for performinga scan operation on an original document, the computer system running ascanner driver and an application program;, the method comprising thesteps of: determining a set of image processing settings required forthe original document by a scanner driving program; obtaining aprimitive scanned image in a manner that the scanner uses the imageprocessing settings through the scanner driving program; performing animage-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image, wherein theimage-enhancement process includes an automatic character recognitionroutine; and obtaining a final image by the image-enhancement process,wherein the final image is transferred to the application program.
 5. Auser interface for a scanner, comprising: athe scanner, for scanning anoriginal document to an image data; a computer system, for storing andprocessing the image data from the scanner; a scanner driving program,for driving the scanner and then performing an image-enhancement processon the image data stored in the computer system; and an applicationprogram, for receiving a final image processed by the image-enhancementprocess, wherein a method implemented on the user interface comprisingcomprises the steps of: determining a set of image processing settingsrequired for the original document by a the scanner driving program;obtaining a primitive scanned image in a manner that the scanner usesthe image processing settings through the scanner driving program;performing an image-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image,wherein the image-enhancement process includes an automatic cuttingroutine; and obtaining a the final image by the image-enhancementprocess on the primitive scanned image, wherein the final image istransferred to the application program.
 6. A user interface for ascanner, comprising: athe scanner, for scanning an original document toan image data; a computer system, for storing and processing the imagedata from the scanner; a scanner driving program, for driving thescanner and then performing an image-enhancement process on the imagedata stored in the computer system; and an application program, forreceiving a final image processed by the image-enhancement process,wherein a method implemented on the user interface comprising comprisesthe steps of: determining a set of image processing settings requiredfor the original document by a the scanner driving program; obtaining aprimitive scanned image in a manner that the scanner uses the imageprocessing settings through the scanner driving program; performing animage-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image, wherein theimage-enhancement process includes a distortion correction routine; andobtaining a the final image by the image-enhancement process on theprimitive scanned image, wherein the final image is transferred to theapplication program.
 7. A user interface for a scanner, comprising: athescanner, for scanning an original document to an image data; a computersystem, for storing and processing the image data from the scanner; ascanner driving program, for driving the scanner and then performing animage-enhancement process on the image data stored in the computersystem; and an application program, for receiving a final imageprocessed by the image-enhancement process, wherein a method implementedon the user interface comprising comprises the steps of: determining aset of image processing settings required for the original document by athe scanner driving program; obtaining a primitive scanned image in amanner that the scanner uses the image processing settings through thescanner driving program; performing an image-enhancement process on theprimitive scanned image, wherein the image-enhancement process includesa color calibration routine; and obtaining a the final image by theimage-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image, wherein thefinal image is transferred to the application program.
 8. A userinterface for a scanner, comprising: athe scanner, for scanning anoriginal document to an image data; a computer system, for storing andprocessing the image data from the scanner; a scanner driving program,for driving the scanner and then performing an image-enhancement processon the image data stored in the computer system; and an applicationprogram, for receiving a final image processed by the image-enhancementprocess, wherein a method implemented on the user interface comprisingcomprises the steps of: determining a set of image processing settingsrequired for the original document by a the scanner driving program;obtaining a primitive scanned image in a manner that the scanner usesthe image processing settings through the scanner driving program;performing an image-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image,wherein the image-enhancement process includes an automatic characterrecognition routine; and obtaining a the final image by theimage-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image, wherein thefinal image is transferred to the application program.
 9. A method,comprising: obtaining an image processing setting for a target of ascan; obtaining a primitive scanned image of the scan target using theobtained image processing setting through a scanner driving program;performing an image-enhancement process on the primitive scanned image,wherein the image-enhancement process includes at least one of anautomatic cutting routine, a distortion correction routine, a colorcalibration routine, or an automatic character recognition routine; andobtaining a final image by the image-enhancement process, wherein thefinal image is transferred to an application program.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, further comprising: checking for another scan target to bescanned, the checking based on an input from a user interface; if thechecking indicates no additional scanning, then transferring the finalimage to the application program; and if the checking indicates anotherscan target to be scanned, then causing the scanner to scan a secondtime before transferring the final image to the application program. 11.The method of claim 9, further comprising obtaining the image processingsetting for the scan target based on an input from a user interface. 12.The method of claim 9, wherein the final image is obtained using only asingle scanning of the scan target.
 13. The method of claim 9, whereinthe application program is an image editing program or a word processor.14. The method of claim 9, further comprising: selecting, using thescanner driving program, a subset of available image processingsettings, the subset selected based on the scan target; and issuing ascan request that includes at least the obtained image processingsetting, wherein the obtained image processing setting is one of thesettings from the subset.
 15. A memory device having instructions storedthereon that, in response to execution by a computing device, cause thecomputing device to perform operations comprising: obtaining a primitivescanned image using an image processing setting through a scannerdriving program; performing an image-enhancement process on theprimitive scanned image, wherein the image-enhancement process includesat least one of an automatic cutting routine, a distortion correctionroutine, a color calibration routine, or an automatic characterrecognition routine; and obtaining a final image by theimage-enhancement process, wherein the final image is transferred to anapplication program.
 16. The memory device of claim 15, wherein theoperations further comprise: checking for another scan job, the checkingbased on an input from a user interface; if the checking indicates noadditional scanning, then transferring the final image to theapplication program; and if the checking indicates another scan job,then causing the scanner to scan a second time before transferring thefinal image to the application program.
 17. The memory device of claim15, wherein the operations further comprise obtaining the imageprocessing setting for a scan target based on an input from a userinterface.
 18. The memory device of claim 15, wherein the final image isobtained using only a single scanning of a scan target.
 19. The memorydevice of claim 15, wherein the application program is an image editingprogram or a word processor.
 20. The memory device of claim 15, whereinthe operations further comprise: selecting, using the scanner drivingprogram, a subset of available image processing settings, the subsetselected based on a scan target; and issuing a scan request thatincludes at least the obtained image processing setting, wherein theobtained image processing setting is one of the settings from thesubset.
 21. An apparatus, comprising: means for obtaining a primitivescanned image using an image processing setting through a scannerdriving program; means for performing an image-enhancement process onthe primitive scanned image, wherein the image-enhancement processincludes at least one of an automatic cutting routine, a distortioncorrection routine, a color calibration routine, or an automaticcharacter recognition routine; and means for obtaining a final image bythe image-enhancement process, wherein the final image is transferred toan application program.
 22. The apparatus of claim 21, furthercomprising: means for checking if there is another scan job; and meansfor transferring the final image to the application program based on aresult of the checking.
 23. The apparatus of claim 21, furthercomprising means for determining the image processing setting based on ascan target associated with the primitive scanned image.
 24. Theapparatus of claim 21, wherein the final image is obtained using only asingle scanning of a scan target.
 25. The apparatus of claim 21, whereinthe application program is an image editing program or a word processor.